Indicating device



Patented Mar. 22, 1938 PATENT# o-FFICE 2,111,795 'INDicATINc DEvicE William T. Maybury, McKees Rocks, Pa. Application October 19, 1935,; Serial No. 45,775

3 Claims. (Cl. 40- 960' This invention relates. to an indicatingqdevice particularly useful for indicating the stock 'of articles on hand, and to ai method of` tabulating such articles.

The device and method will be described herein more particularly with relation to the automobile trade; but it will be understood that theV invention is not thus limited, as articles of various kinds may be tabulated in accordance with my invention. Automobile dealers are generally required to report periodically as to the total number of used cars which have been in stockv thirty. days..v or under, less than sixty days. but

more than thirty days, and less than ninety days.

but more than sixty days. This information may berequired alsoon new cars and on Vre-possessed cars.

This invention; has for one. ofits. objects the automatic tabulation of the number ofV cars" in stock according to variousl periods, the above Vdi- Vision of time by thirtyfday periods being .the one now customarily used; By employing colored'4 cards according toa predetermined color scheme.,

the desired information as to several typesof cars' (used, re-possessed, new, etc.) is rendered readily available at any time.

In thei accompanying drawing whichy shows; one form. of device which is illustrative ofV my.,

invention,

Fig. 1 is aview in elevation of the device; Fig. 2 isa detail. sectional view on. the, line II-II of Fig.` 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view in vertical section ont the f line III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig...`4 is atransverselvertical section, partly broken away, on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail View on a considerably enlarged scale showing the mountings for adjacent cards; and

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation looking from the right side of Fig. 5.

The frame 8 in the embodiment shown is vertically arranged and includes a base portion 8a, end portions 8b and 8c, and a top portion 8d. The frame is preferably stamped from sheet metal, and may be attractively decorated or enameled in a plain color. In the front face of the frame 8 is a'large rectangular opening beyond which is arranged an endless belt, later to be described. This belt is adapted to mount cards in Vertical rows; and when the belt is moved from left to right past the opening one step each day, a card inserted at the extreme left of the opening will remain in view and progress gradually across thedevice during the course of ninety days,: or whateverv number is selected.,

Across the front of the top portion 8d are pro: videdindexing means for identifying the length of time agiven vertical row of cards hasV been in the device. At the top of the first row (the, row aty the extremev left) is marked the wordr In. The succeeding rows are number ed successively from one to ninety inclusive, or other predeterminednumber. It'will thusbe apparent that the device providesa frame 8 for the rows of. cards; this: frame affording indexing means along the` top side thereof.

Brackets IIJA and II are secured adjacent the top and bottom respectivelyA of the end portions 8b and 8c of the frame. In these-brackets are rotatably mounted spindles or other suitable rotatable members adapted to carry the belt abovej referred to.V Specifically, these spindlesA comprise vertical shafts I 3 carrying frictionv members I5 and I6.V These members'I-and I6, although generally cylindrical in shape, have the surfaces roughened, a slightly corrugated or milled surface beingthe one preferred, Each member is provided with a flange cooperating with the edge of the belt toassist in guiding the belt. Knurled knobs I -1. on theends of the shafts I3 make it possible to turn either shaft I3 and thus move the belt. t

Y The structure of the belt is indicated more in detail in Figs. 2, 3, 5, and 6. To a backing 2l)` are secured transverse strips 2|. In the embodiment shown', the strips are of wood. To the back of' the backing 2liand along each ofthe edgesthereof is attached a strip. 22 of rubber. I prefer to-` cement the rubber strips to the backing ,26s These rubber strips 22 cooperate with the surface of the friction members I5 and I6.

As the frame and spindles are vertically arranged, the wooden strips 2I of the belt (which extend transversely of the belt) are also vertically arranged. Each strip 2I is adapted to mount a plurality of cards in a vertical row. For this purpose, mounting recesses are provided on each strip 2| According to the particular construction shown, pairs of sockets 24 are provided in the wooden strips by forming kerfs inclined toward each other. A card C may then be inserted in the manner indicated in Fig. 6.

To assist in guiding the belt, the edges of the frame 8 around the opening may be bent and turned back or rolled as indicated at 26 in Fig. 4. A double angle piece 2'I is secured to the frame 8 so as to extend along the top portion 8d, and a similar piece 21' extends along the base portion 8a. Each piece has a flange extending behind the belt so as to maintain the same in position as it moves along. The front face and the rear face of the frame may be the same, both being provided with openings; or if desired the rear face may be completely closed in. Shafts .29 extend from front to back of the frame just below the lower edges of the belt; and rollers 30 cooperate with the lower edges of both ights of the belt to assist in supporting its weight.

When the device is to be used in tabulating the stock of articles, such as automobiles, on hand, a small card of appropriate color is inserted in the strip indicated by In of the indexing means each time an article such as a new car, a used car, or a re-possessed car is placed in stock. For instance, blue cards may be used for new cars, green cards for used used cars, and red cards used for re-possessed cars. Each day the knurled knobs are turned so as to advance the belt one step. The row which was beneath In of the indexing means now is in registry with the numeral l. The second day it will be in registry with the numeral 2, etc. In this way, the cards indicating the stock are indexed according to the number of days the articles have been in stock. Of course, when a car is sold or otherwise disposed of, the card corresponding thereto is removed from the device.

In this way, a dealer can readily determine how many cars he has in stock, how many of these cars are used cars, new cars, or re-possessed cars; and he can also readily determine how manir cars belong in each period, namely, thirty days or under, less than sixty days or over thirty days, and less than ninety days but over sixty days. 'I'his is of great assistance in making out the reports periodically.

After ninety days, the cards initially placed in the strip 2l at the left-hand end of the device will have reached the right-hand end of the device, unless they have been removed in the meantime by reason of a sale of the car which corresponds to the particular card. It is of importance to dealers that whenever a car or cars have been in stock at least ninety days, the fact be brought to their attention. This is done automatically when the cards reach the right-hand end of the device, since they must then be removed. Such cards upon reaching the righthand end of the device will be led on spindles or other like holders. Accordingly, the cars which have been in stock more than ninety days will be represented by the cards on the spindles or other holders at the right-hand end of the device.

It will be apparent from the above description that such a method of tabulating articles in stock has the advantage that the totals may be gathered quickly, and may be estimated with considerable accuracy merely by a casual glance at the device. 'I'his is particularly true when a particular color of card is used for a particular type of article.

Moreover, the device has the advantage that the cards are automatically advanced each day, and yet the tabulation of articles in stock is complete at all times and requires no re-handling of the cards as the length of time the articles have been in stock increases.

While I have illustrated and described the embodiment of my invention which I at present prefer, it will be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An indicating device comprising a rectangular frame having an open front and providing indexing means along one side thereof, a belt associated with said frame and including transverse strips each having recesses for removably mounting a row of cards thereon, means for moving said belt past the open front of the frame so that the ends of said rows move along the side provided with indexing means in cooperative relation with the latter, and cards mounted by the transverse strips and removable therefrom through the open front of the frame.

2. A device of the class described comprising a frame having a rectangular opening in a vertical face thereof, members mounted in the ends of the frame to rotate about vertical axes, rollers in the lower portion of the frame, and an endless belt passed about said members and resting on said rollers, said belt including a fabricbacking, and transverse strips secured on the outer face of said backing, said strips each having recesses for mounting a plurality of cards in a row, said frame affording means for indexing said rows of cards.

3. An automobile inventory recording device comprising a frame having an open front, an endless belt moving in said frame, means for detachably mounting on said belt cards corresponding to the automobiles in stock, said cards being removable through the open front of said frame, indexing means in cooperative relationship with said cards, and means for moving said belt in relation to said indexing means.

WILLIAM T. MAYBURY. 

